New York State Department of Transportation Opens New West Thames Park in Battery Park City

ALBANY, NY (07/01/2010)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee was joined today by Federal Transit Administration Regional Administrator Brigid Hynes-Chernin, Manhattan Community Board 1 Battery Park City Committee Chairperson Linda Belfer and children from the Battery Park City Day Nursery in opening the newly redesigned West Thames Park in Battery Park City, New York County. New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, New York State Senator Daniel Squadron and Congressman Jerrold Nadler, who were instrumental in advancing and completing this project, were also invited to attend.

"The completion of West Thames Park is yet another symbol of progress on the restoration of the Battery Park City neighborhood that was so severely damaged by the events of September 11, 2001," said Governor David A. Paterson. "As construction continues on the many projects associated with rebuilding lower Manhattan, we look forward to the day when the entire World Trade Center site can once again reopen, and continue as the center of excellence for the nation. I commend the Department of Transportation and the community for their efforts, which have resulted in making this beautiful park a reality."

"With school out of session, and children already enjoying the Park playground which was opened for Memorial Day weekend, we are pleased to be able to open the remaining facilities for use in time for the July 4th weekend and the start of summer," said Acting Commissioner Gee. "The opening of this new version of West Thames Park is a testament to the indomitable spirit of New Yorkers. For, here in the shadows of the World Trade Center site, the laughter of these children can be heard once again. This Park is the embodiment of the collective efforts of community and elected leaders who have been committed to its construction. The New York State Department of Transportation is proud to be part of this lasting legacy."

Also participating in the ceremony were representatives from the Federal Highway Administration and the Battery Park City Authority.

"I'm very pleased that West Thames Park will now be reopened for the Lower Manhattan community to enjoy," said Rep. Jerrold Nadler. "This excellent park is a symbol of the ongoing recovery and rejuvenation of the area near Ground Zero and a reminder that Lower Manhattan is

bouncing back little-by-little. While the rebuilding of Ground Zero and the rehabilitation of the West Side Highway are still underway, residents and visitors will be able to use this park in the heart of the neighborhood. I commend the Battery Park City community, the New York State Department of Transportation, and the Federal Transit Administration for their vital work on this project."

"I am delighted to see this much-needed park has been newly renovated and is now open for our community," said Speaker Silver. "The new West Thames Park gives everyone -- parents, children of all ages, pet owners and those simply looking for a peaceful day in the sun -- a state-of-the-art outdoor space right in their backyard. I am proud of how the Battery Park City community came together in support of this worthy project and I would like to thank the Department of Transportation for getting it opened on time so that we can enjoy it this summer."

"This new playground has given kids and families in the community a new and improved place to gather and play, and is a perfect example of how collaboration between community members and government can result in a wonderful amenity for the community," said Senator Squadron. "I'm pleased to have been part of a productive dialogue with my colleagues, New York State Department of Transportation and members of the Battery Park City community to address many concerns and bring an even better park to the neighborhood."

"The re-opening of West Thames Park is exciting news for the entire Battery Park community," said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. "I am especially pleased that NYSDOT worked closely with Community Board 1 members to accommodate the requests and concerns of neighborhood residents. Families, dog-walkers and runners alike will all benefit from the new and improved recreational, exercise and green space."

"With the opening of the West Thames Park, the Lower Manhattan community will have an important open green space and park, set in the middle of a dense urban landscape, that the thousands of residents, office workers and visitors can use year round," said Manhattan Community Board 1 Chairperson Julie Menin.

"The residents now have a new space to enjoy and all who use the adjacent promenade will see how beautiful the parks in Manhattan can be," said Darrelene Rosete, Director of Education for the Battery Park City Day Nursery. "I want to thank NYSDOT and the community for all they've done to get us to this day."

The new West Thames Park includes many new or improved park features, starting with the children's playground, which now has 16 pieces of play equipment, compared with two pieces of equipment in the original park. The playground was opened to the public on May 28, 2010, and has been teeming with children ever since.

Other new features include a separate children's basketball court, two adult half courts, a toddler lawn area with a shade structure, and a 6,200-square-foot dog run, with separate runs for large and small dogs.

The new park was developed in close coordination with the Battery Park City community and is the outcome of more than 40 community meetings and design workshops. Community coordination on the park began in early 2005, with monthly community updates and coordination taking place through to opening day.

The new West Thames Park also replaces the sloped lawn area with a level lawn, improving its use for active and passive recreation. At its southern end, the lawn includes an overhanging arbor that is being planted with vines for shade. At the northern end of the park, community gardeners tend to their botanical bounty, newly transplanted to the park last month.

The new playground is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, improving on the old playground, where access to the play equipment was limited by sand. Additional improvements in the playground include water play equipment to help kids stay cool in summer, as well as the replacement of the old tire swing with a new tire swing that is in compliance with New York City codes. A beloved feature of West Thames Park, the tire swing featured in the discussion at several community meetings in the weeks before construction began.

The park includes 24 new trees, replacing twenty trees in the park that were nearing the end of their natural lives. The new species include honey locust, green vase Zelkova, regent Sophora and Shingle Oak. The trees were selected to provide shade cover immediately and to reach full maturity more quickly than typical New York City street trees.

Adjacent to the park are a new 16'-wide, Class I bikeway and 12'-wide pedestrian walkway, connecting the World Trade Center site with Battery Park, as originally envisioned as part of the "Listening to the City" community event held by the Civic Alliance in the summer of 2002. The Route 9A bikeway extends north to 59th Street and into Riverside Park and is the most heavily traveled bike path in the United States.

Assisting NYSDOT in the design of the park were the consulting firms Stantec Consulting Services and Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects, both of New York, NY. Construction was completed by a joint venture of Tully Construction Co., Inc. of Flushing, NY and E. E. Cruz and Company of Holmdel, NJ. Construction management services were provided by STV Inc. of New York, NY, and construction inspection services were provided by AECOM of New York, NY. Community outreach services were provided by Zetlin Strategic Communications of New York, NY.

Construction of the $9.4 million West Thames Park was funded by the Federal Transit Administration as part of the $4.55 billion transportation infrastructure recovery program initiated following the attacks of September 11, 2001. The new park will be maintained by the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy, a subsidiary of the Battery Park City Authority.

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